CASS LAKE — Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe secretary/treasurer Leonard Fineday will now serve in a leadership position in the National Congress of American Indians.
Fineday was elected to serve as one of 12 regional vice presidents for the organization, representing the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe in the Midwest region.
The Midwest Region includes 36 tribal nations across Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa. Of those states, Minnesota has the highest percentage of population identifying as America Indian or Alaska Native.
The 80-year-old NCAI is a nonprofit seeking to develop consensus on national priority issues impacting tribal sovereignty. Fineday will serve a two-year term in the role. An attorney who has served in positions in Leech Lake, White Earth and Red Lake, Fineday is also a member of the Cass Lake-Bena School Board.
-
After a dispute with the soon-to-be city over which is best suited to install sewer around Lake Bemidji, the Bemidji Council reaffirmed its policy of "no connection without annexation." -
Contributed/Summit School Facebook pageKids Count on Us, a statewide organization of child care providers, hosts the event 12:30 p.m. Sunday, March 22, 2026, in the Northwest Technical College commons. -
And: A new bill would ban municipalities from signing nondisclosure agreements; Otter Tail Power Co. had above-average profits last two years; Mountain Iron-Buhl is girls basketball runner-up. -
Megan Buffington/KAXEThe Pequot Lakes Fire District and Breezy Point Police Department responded to the fire the morning of March 14, 2026. The incident is under investigation. -
Malachy Koons/KAXEFresh Picks: True rebel music, sweet and gritty country, a songwriter steps out and jazz-punk fusionThe KAXE Music Team highlights new music from Tinariwen, Cat Clyde, Morgan Nagler, Jalen Ngonda, Joanne Shaw Taylor, Julianna Riolino, Messthetics and James Brandon Lewis. -
Contributed/Lakers Music BoostersSeveral Detroit Lakes High School band and choir members are currently on a northbound bus, and Music Director Tim Siewert said the travel fiasco will add $35,000 in unexpected costs. -
The 110 investor-owned utilities included in the report had an average profit margin of 12.8% from 2021 to 2024 and 14.6% in 2025. Xcel and Otter Tail were in the top 40 both years. -
Contributed/Ellen Schmidt / MinnPost / CatchLight Local / Report for AmericaHundreds of cities are vying for state bonding bill dollars to fund local infrastructure projects at the Legislature. -
Lorie Shaull/KAXEAn estimated 9 million trees around the Bemidji area were damaged or downed in the June 2025 storm. Bemidji Fire Chief Justin Sherwood said planning for spring fire danger has been ongoing since. -
Contributed/John Muhlenpoh / MSHSLMountain Iron-Buhl finishes its season with a 30-2 record. Anna Neyens and Paige Norman were named to the all-tournament team, as was Kelliher/Northome’s Kate Thayer.
